Driver education has been underway at Freeman Junior-Senior High School all week as instructor Tyler Uecker has instructed students in the school's chorus room Monday through Thursday, July 6-9. Driving begins next week and will continue through much of July.

It has been nearly five months since South Dakota reported the first COVID-19 case. Our knowledge of the virus has dramatically changed over this time and advice on how we should respond has continued to evolve. This week we asked the outgoing and incoming Chief of Medical Staff at Freeman Regional Health Services, Ken Kirton, MD and Shakil Hafiz, DO, to answer questions to help us understand the current COVID-19 situation.

“It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Wayne Walter Decker was born on Dec. 2, 1932 in Hutchinson County, South Dakota to John T. and Lydia (Walter) Decker. He attended Highland District #78 and Parkston High School. He abandoned his high school career at the age of 16 to work alongside his dad on the family farm near Milltown, S.D. He was drafted into the United States Army near the end of the Korean War and served his basic training in Fort Campbell, Ky. Because the war ended, he did not have to serve in active military service and was able to return home to his life on the farm.

Dr. Patty Sue Herman passed away peacefully at age 70 on June 24, 2020, after a long battle with a very rare neurological disease. She left this life to join her parents on the date of their wedding anniversary and will be greatly missed by her loving brother and sisters, as well as other friends and relatives. Patty is survived by her sister Joanne (the late David) Ziarek of New Berlin, Wis., brother James Herman of Menno, S.D., and sister Judy Herman (Greg Houda) of Moran, Wyo.

Lane McCune fishes at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum early Tuesday afternoon, July 7.

For the first time since the Freeman Public Library closed its doors to the public and suspended all organized activities amid coronavirus concerns in mid-March, driver license renewals are returning. The station is set up for appointments inside the library's front entrance; with all slots for the July 7 renewals full, they will also be available Tuesday, July 14.

It was a picturesque scene at Merchants State Bank Field in Freeman Sunday night, July 5, as the community celebrated Independence Day. Youth softball and baseball games in the afternoon were followed by town team action as the Freeman Blacksox hosted Tabor — and won 4-1 behind a strong pitching outing from Nate Brohem. The day also included chislic sponsored by Merchants State Bank, other concessions and fireworks to cap the night, which were again sponsored by CorTrust Bank.

Menno's Dylan Lehr is pictured during the national anthem prior to the Mad Frogs' Fourth of July baseball game against Freeman on a warm but comfortable Saturday night. Menno won the traditional Independence Day game 12-5 to improve to 9-4 on the season. The Blacksox will take a 5-11 record into tonight's home game against Tabor that will be part of Freeman's celebration. Youth softball games begin at 12 p.m., with baseball games to follow beginning at 3 p.m.

The color guard made up of American Legion chapters from Menno, Tabor, Wagner and Yankton, as well as the VFW from Scotland, lead the Fourth of July parade down Fifth Street in Menno Ssturday morning. The traditional and popular celebration drew hundreds of guests and included 60 entries from Menno and surrounding communities. A Menno FFA pork loin feed in the city park followed; baseball and fireworks is on tap for tonight and Freeman will celebrated Independence Day on Sunday afternoon and evening.